Nose job1929 viewsI didn't see this among the souvenirs being sold. Wonder where he got it.

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The second portable shrine and main attraction. It is 2.5 meters (13 feet) long, 60 cm diameter, and weighs about 300 kg. It takes 10 days to carve it from a cypress log.1813 views

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Procession maidens pose with the giant penis. The giant phallus was then partially hidden by the portable shrine as it is today. But this made the phallus become larger to 2.5 meters, as if to compensate for this partial shielding.1578 views

Senbei crackers1559 views

Demure-looking woman figurine looks deceiving until you look at the bottom...1466 views

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Maiden poses with the giant penis. In the past, the phallus was attached to a straw effigy of a warrior, but it was deemed too raunchy and discontinued.1418 views

People line up to rub the sacred balls. Penis rock in the foreground.1408 views

Banner with ukiyoe shunga-style painting of a penis.1263 views

It might look light brown here, but it looks more pinkish. It is carved in winter from a hinoki cypress tree by a master artisan wearing ceremonially-purified clothing and using traditional tools.1254 views

Gozensai prayer ceremony before the start of the procession.1103 views

Sacred Balls. Put in money and rub the left and right ball for family safety, business prosperity, safe childbirth, etc. 珍宝窟1045 views

Pregnant women also attend the festival. As well as mothers with a young baby coming to give thanks.1041 views

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Way to Tagata Shrine from Tagata Jinja-mae Station. Shrine famous for numerous phallic objects used as offerings to the gods. The 1500-year-old shrine worships a deity called Tamahime-no-Mikoto who was a daughter of a powerful local lord from the 5th c.1014 viewsThe Honen-sai or Honen (Hounen) Matsuri is held by Tagata Jinja on March 15 to pray for an abundant harvest. "Honen" literally means "Year of abudant harvest." Since a giant penis is used as an offering, it is popularly called the "penis festival."

The shrine is near Tagata Jinja-mae Station on the Meitetsu Railways' Komaki Line. From Shin-Nagoya Station or Shin-Gifu Station, go to Inuyama Station and transfer to the Komaki Line.

The usual penis souvenirs on sale.940 views

Many foreigners also join in the fun. The giant phallus was originally about 1 meter long and paraded by itself by 4-5 people with no portable shrine shelter.924 views

Various entertainment is staged within Tagata Shrine up until the procession starts at 2 pm.916 views

Breaking the sake barrel895 views

Another mikoshi with a wooden penis. For a good harvest.885 views

The giant phallus is called "O-owasegata." It is an offering, and not a deity nor object of worship. Tagata Shrine Honen Festival. A total of 60 men take turns carrying the giant phallus portable shrine. 大男茎形885 views

The short prayer ceremony ends.883 views

Front view. A new giant, wooden phallus is carved every year since newly-made objects are considered to have more purity and vitality.877 views

Lots of people pose with the giant penis. Amid hordes of amateur photographers864 views

Women spectators touch the penis for good fortune and to become fertile perhaps?860 views

Kumano-sha Shrine, the starting point of the procession or "Penis Parade." 熊野社715 views

Sarutahiko-no-Okami, the deity who led the descent of Amaterasu (Sun Goddess) from heaven to earth.709 views

Portable shrine for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto who was a local prince married to Tamahime which Tagata Shrine worships.683 views

The second mikoshi features the giant penis carried by 12 men at a time, all of whom are age 42, considered to be an unlucky age (yakudoshi) for men. They seek protection by carrying the phallus.679 views

Schedule of events and procession route. In odd-numbered years (like 2007), the procession starts from nearby Kumano-sha Shrine. In even-numbered years, the procession starts from Shinmei-sha Shrine.673 views

Sake flows freely.665 views

Musical clock665 views

Entering Tagata Shrine, dedicated to Tamahime-no-Mikoto (daughter of a local feudal lord) and Mitoshi-no-Kami (deity of harvests).631 views

Takeinadane-no-Mikoto621 views1 comments

Maidens who are 36 years old, carry wooden penises for protection during their "unlucky age" (yakudoshi).571 views

The giant phallus by itself weighs about 280 kg (620 lbs.). The total weight of both the phallus and portable shrine housing is 400 kg (885 lbs.).567 views

People waiting for the procession along the shrine steps. (Not a good place to watch the procession.)565 views

Now comes the giant phallus heading for the shrine's main hall.500 views

This is what you see inside Oku-no-miya Shrine. A giant wooden phallus offering.495 views

Nagoya Castle tower, reconstructed in 1959 with ferro-concrete. It houses a museum. The top floor has a lookout deck with fine views. 天守閣474 views

Sarutahiko-no-Okami, the deity who led the descent of Amaterasu (Sun Goddess) from heaven to earth.473 views

The procession goers down the slope in front of Kumano Shrine.464 views

Banner of shunga-style penis painting.454 views

People waiting for the procession in front of Kumano Shrine.453 views

A large crowd tries to catch numerous mochi which are hard and can be dangerous if it hits you on the face or head. To avoid injury, do not look down and don't try to pick up mochi on the ground. You can get trampled, and most injuries occur this way.450 views

Ichinomiya Station has both the JR Tokaido Line and Meitetsu Line. Ichinomiya literally means "Shrine No. 1."449 views

Symbol of Nagoya, golden shachihoko. Killer whale or fish with a tiger's head.442 viewsFirst believed to protect the building from disasters, but later served as the symbol of the castle lord's authority. The original pair was destroyed along with the castle tower during WWII, but they were remade in 1959 along with the castle tower. Later, they were recoated with gold. They gleam very well on sunny days. The male fish is on the right (north), and female (south) on the left.

The first mikoshi is for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto coming to visit his wife of Tamahime at Tagata Shrine, where Tamahime's residence was located.438 views

Toshi-gami deity of harvests is pulled on a palanquin instead of being carried.419 views

Okazaki Castle tower415 viewsThe castle was dismantled during the Meiji Period and the area was made into a castle park. The castle tower was later rebuilt in 1959.

Palanquin for Deity of Harvests411 views

A group of men carry a red and white pole in front of Inazawa Station, on their way to Konomiya Shrine.408 views

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At 4 pm, the festival's final event is the mochi-nage or rice-cake tossing. First, they warn eveyone that the shrine won't be liable for any injury you might incur from this. And the elderly and children should avoid this mochi-nage.405 views

Takeinadane-no-Mikoto400 views

Apparently it can become erect too. (Compare with previous photo.)400 views

Konomiya Hadaka Festival, Inazawa, Aichi Pref.394 views

Installed inside the shrine's Honden main hall, the new giant penis will replace the old one.393 views

Carried by men singing kiyari laborers' songs, the smaller wooden phallus also goes to enter the shrine's main hall.390 views

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Next is a palanquin (not mikoshi) for the Toshi-gami deity of harvests. 御歳神380 views

Giant phallus makes its way to the shrine.378 views

By this time, all the men are filled with sake and gregarious.377 views

Where the penis goes, the crowd follows.371 views

Gaijin girls had an easy time attracting men who happily tried to converse in English and bestow cloth strips.361 views

The standard-bearer with a banner of shunga-style penis painting.346 views

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Not sure what this is.334 views

Portable shrine for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto332 views

Salt sprinkler heads the procession to purify the way.327 views

The route is short, but it's a slow procession with many short breaks. The procession lasts 1.5 hours.326 views

My video of Masumida Shrine on New Year's Day 2011, Ichinomiya, Aichi.326 views

Branches of the sacred sakaki tree.322 views

Drum322 views

Sake cart317 views

Yoshida Castle turret312 views

The first half of the route is quite narrow.311 views

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I always visit a different shrine on New Year's Day, so for 2009, I visited Atsuta Jingu Shrine in Nagoya. JR Atsuta Station on the Tokaido Line is one train station near Atsuta Jingu Shrine. JR熱田駅308 views

Votice tablets written with people's wishes for love, sex, and babies.307 views

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The giant penis also arrives at the shrine as it spins around behind the292 views

Tagata Shrine grounds during the Honen Festival.292 views

Tagata Jinja banners.291 views

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It was a pretty cold day, and these men were drinking all afternoon.285 views

Finally on the main road to Tagata Shrine. Half the road is blocked off for the procession.285 views

Near the station is Nagoya City Hall (Shiyakusho) which also sports a castle motif.284 views

Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station284 views

Inuyama Castle tower282 views

Portable shrine for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto281 views

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Konomiya Shrine holds the Hadaka (Naked or Nude) Festival in early March, or Jan. 13 of the lunar calendar. Men in loincloths parade around the streets until they reach the shrine.279 viewsA Sacred Man (Shin-otoko) also appears in the shrine and the men try to touch him before he slips into the shrine's window. The festival's real name is Naoi-shinji 儺追神事 which is a rite to dispel bad luck. Photo: Nearest station is JR Inazawa Station on the Tokaido Line. 稲沢駅

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On the 5th floor is a model of shachihoko that you can touch and sit on for pictures.278 views

Closeup of castle tower, with shachihoko on top. Nagoya Castle is famous for its golden pair of shachihoko roof ornaments. During the Aichi Expo in 2005, they were taken down for public display. 天守閣276 views

Kiso River with Inuyama Castle in the distance274 views

On the main road.274 views

Tagata Shrine crowded with people waiting for the procession to arrive.272 views

Entrance to Tagata Shrine crowded with people waiting for the procession to arrive.271 views

The giant phallus in front Tagata Shrine's Honden main hall.271 views

Inuyama Castle roof265 views

Portable shrine for Takeinadane-no-Mikoto enters the Honden main hall.262 views

Torii on Takeshima island261 views

Salt sprinkler enters first.261 views

Sometimes a man from the window jumps into the crowd to grab and take in the Sacred Man.260 views

Jo-an tea ceremony house, a National Treasure. Built in 1618 by Oda Uraku, one of the greatest tea ceremony masters and younger brother of warlord Oda Nobunaga.256 viewsJo-an is one of Japan's three most famous tea ceremony houses. 如庵

Tagata Shrine crowded with people waiting for the procession to arrive.256 views

Nagoya Castle, Northwest corner turret. 西北隅櫓254 views

Best-looking phallic rock.254 views

Takeshima island253 views

Oku-no-miya Shrine also has many other phallic objects presented as offerings. There even one which you can touch...253 views

Kiyomasa depicted as the rock hauling director. When building the castle, many men had to push and pull large rocks into place. On top of a large boulder, a man would shout and direct the men to move.221 views

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Phallic souvenirs.214 views

Inside castle tower210 viewsThe castle tower is a history museum.

Inside tea ceremony house208 views

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Sanko Inari Shrine206 viewsThe shrine provides a short cut to the castle.

Tagata Jinja-mae Station on Meitetsu Railways' Komaki Line, a few stops from Inuyama Station. The shrine is a 10 min. walk from the train station.202 views

Kiyosu Castle, Aichi Prefecture. Oda Nobunaga moved to Kiyosu Castle from Nagoya Castle in 1555. From Kiyosu Castle, he went to defeat the Imagawa at the Battle of Okehazama.185 views

Nagoya Station's twin towers in the distance.184 views

Southeast corner turret (Important Cultural Property)182 views東南隅櫓

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Raising a pole in front of Inazawa Station179 views

My bowl of matcha green tea. After we consumed the tea, we just left. The shrines also has many other buildings, but it was too crowded for me to see them all this day. I was too tired walk around more.177 views

Numerous groups of near-naked men (no women) proceed to the shrine all afternoon.174 views

Closeup of giant mochi. Solid as a rock.174 views

Stones and Oku-no-miya Shrine174 views

On the straight road from Inazawa Station to Konomiya Shrine.173 views

Put in money and it will make a "chin" sound. (From the word "chinpo" for penis.)172 views

Bridge to Takeshima island171 views

Female Rock171 views

Honen Matsuri Festival banner disguising the female organ.169 views

As you walk toward the castle entrance, you see this Sotobori outer moat.168 views

Some of the men tear off strips from their handband and give them to bystanders.168 views

This photo was taken in 2006, showing an empty lot where the Hommaru Goten Palace is being reconstructed now.164 views

Monkeys164 views

Giant kagami mochi, rice cake in the Haiden Hall. Over 2 meters tall and over 2 meters diameter. Weighs 4 tons. They are to be cut into small pieces (with a chain saw) and given away the next morning.164 views

Oku-no-miya Shrine. Look carefully and you can see what's inside. 奥宮164 views

Oagata Shrine's Female Rock. Not a good likeness...「姫石」（陰石）163 views

Phallic rock. There are several phallic rocks donated by various people. Apparently they are either natural or carved.162 views

JR Kiyosu Station platform. Note that only the local (kaku-eki) trains stop at Kiyosu Station. The kaisoku express trains don't stop at Kiyosu.147 views

The inner path to the shrine gets more crowded.145 views

A sweet confection to eat with the matcha tea.144 views

Road to Inuyama Castle143 views

Rabbit Island143 views

This is the small window the Sacred Man has to enter. It has a sprinkler system.143 views

Inuyama Castle142 viewsNational Treasure

Zig-zag to the shrine141 views

There it is. The female rock. 女性器をかたどった石141 views

JR Gamagori Station. In the foreground is my bicycle.140 views

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Road to Ooagata (Oagata) Shrine, famous for worshipping a rock shaped like the female sexual organ. It also holds the Honen Matsuri for a good harvest and fertility on the Sunday before March 15. 大県神社139 viewsThe shrine is the female counterpart to Tagata Shrine which worships the phallus in neighboring Komaki. The shrine is also noted for weeping plum blossoms.

Bridge to caslte138 views

The window where the Sacred Man entered.138 views

Bridge and azaleas137 views

Northwest corner turret. Also called the Inui or Kiyosu Turret. Very photogenic with the wide moat in front. 戌亥櫓（いぬいやぐら）、清洲櫓、西北隅櫓136 views

Tagata Shrine torii and entrance 田縣神社135 views

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Kiyosu Castle as seen from the train on the Tokaido Line going to Nagoya.134 views